Assembly for joining structural components without welding

Abstract

The disclosed assembly comprises a holding device assembly comprising a plurality of external face plates. The external face plates overlap at bolt joints so that the loading of the device bolts acts to secure the external face plates into a unitary structure that resists movement upon application of external load to the axis of a tubular member held thereby. In a preferred embodiment the external face plates are bolted to the base plate, which is secured to a foundation. The inventive holding device assembly is used for lamp posts and for related applications and is made of aluminum or steel.

1 . An assembly for joining a tubular member comprising a metal tube to a flat surface, in combination, comprising: 
 (a) a tubular member,    (b) a holding device having an axis comprising axis of said tubular member,    (c) said holding device comprising a plurality of external face plates to form an external annular housing around said tubular member,    (d) said holding device comprising a plurality of anchor bolts,    (e) said holding device shaped to receive the anchor bolts through said external face plates, said external face plates overlapping at bolt joints, so that loading of said anchor bolts acts to secure said external face plates into a unitary structure that resists movement upon application of an external load normal to the axis of said holding device,    (f) U-shaped internal clamping bars,    (g) side bolt washer plates,    (h) a washer plate,    (i) a base plate,    (j) bolts and nuts which secure said internal clamping bars and side bolt washer plates to said external face plates and secure said tubular member in position, and    (k) the external face plates bolted to the base plate by said anchor bolts.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said anchor bolts pass through said washer plate to add lateral stability and increase assembly stiffness.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein side bolt washer plates and base plate are galvanized metal.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein U-shaped arms of U-shaped internal clamping bars receive and enclose said side bolt washer plates in position.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said washer plate is segmented of separate components to accommodate different diameters of said tubular member.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the holding device is made of aluminum.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the holding device is made of steel.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said tubular member comprises an aluminum tube.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said tubular member comprises a steel tube.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein adhesive is applied between bolts and nuts to resist loosening.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein high-strength bolts are employed.  
   
   
       12 . An assembly to join a tubular member comprising a metal tube to a flat surface attached to an external support structure, in combination, comprising: 
 (a) a holding device,    (b) said holding device comprising a plurality of external face plates forming an external annular housing around said tubular member,    (c) said holding device comprising a plurality of U-shaped internal clamping bars,    (d) a plurality of side bolt washer plates engaged within arms of said plurality of U-shaped internal clamping bars,    (e) said holding device comprising a plurality of high-strength anchor bolts,    (f) said holding device comprising external face plates secured to internal clamping bars by high-strength bolts, said external face plates overlapping at bolt joints, so that the loading of said bolts acts to secure the external face plates into a unitary structure that resists movement upon application of an external load normal to the axis of said tubular member, said high-strength bolts engaging said tubular member in position between said external face plates, U-shaped internal clamping bars, and side bolt washer plates within arms of U-shaped clamping bars,    (g) a base plate,    (h) the external face plates forming said external annular housing bolted to the base plate by said anchor bolts,    (i) a foundation support structure, and    (j) said base plate secured to said foundation as an external support structure.    
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein anchor bolts pass through a washer plate to add lateral stability and increase assembly stiffness.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said tubular member is selected from the group consisting of aluminum tubes and steel tubes.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein U-shaped internal clamping bars extend above the top of the external face plates comprising the external annular housing and attach to said tubular member to provide a cross-section transition and reduce stress on said tubular member.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the holding device is made of aluminum.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the holding device is made of steel.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein adhesive is applied between bolts and nuts to resist loosening.  
   
   
       19 . A method for joining a tubular member to a flat surface without welding using an assembly comprising a holding device comprising external face plates to hold said tubular member and developing enough strength in the joint to meet AASHTO Standards said method comprising: 
 (a) providing bolt holes in said tubular member to receive bolts through said external face plates, which form an external annular housing around said tubular member, said bolts to secure said annular housing to said tubular member,    (b) bolting the external annular housing comprising said external face plates with attachment bolts to a base plate,    (c) attaching the base plate to a foundation as an external support, and    (d) loading of said attachment bolts, which acts to secure said face plates forming said annular housing into a unitary structure that resists movement upon application of an external load normal to the axis of said tubular member.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said bolts pass through a washer plate and said annular housing to add lateral stability and increase assembly stiffness to the assembly.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein adhesive is applied between bolts and nuts to resist the loosening of external fasteners.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the yield strength of the materials in the resulting joint is in the range of from 30,000 psi to 40,000 psi.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the yield strength of the materials in the resulting joint is at least 35,000 psi.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the ultimate strength of the materials in the resulting joint is in the range of from 35,000 psi to 45,000 psi.  
   
   
       25 . A method for securing a tubular member to a flat surface without welding and developing enough strength in the joint to meet AASHTO Standards said method comprising: 
 (a) clamping the tubular member between external face plates of a holding device and internal clamping bars with side bolt washer plates inserted therein,    (b) bolting the external face plates of said holding device to a base plate with attachment bolts, and    (c) attaching the base plate to foundation, and    (d) loading said attachment bolts, which acts to secure the face plates of said holding device into a unitary structure that resists movement upon application of an external load normal to the axis of the tubular member.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the bolts pass through a washer plate atop said external face plates to add lateral stability and assembly stiffness to the assembly.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein an adhesive is applied between bolts and nuts to resist the loosening of external fastening.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein design yield strength in the resulting joint is in the range of from 30,000 psi to 40,000 psi.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein design yield strength of the resulting joint is at least 35,000 psi.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25  wherein design ultimate strength in the resulting joint is in the range of from 35,000 psi to 45,000 psi.  
   
   
       31 . An assembly, in combination, comprising: 
 (a) a tubular member,    (b) a holding device,    (c) the holding device having a plurality of clamping bars,    (d) the holding device having a plurality of high-strength bolts,    (e) the holding device having a plurality of external face plates, and    (f) the tubular member clamped between the external face plates and internal clamping bars by the bolts, said external face plates overlapping at bolt joints, so that loading of the bolts acts to secure the external face plates into a unitary structure that resists movement upon application of an external load normal to the axis of the tubular member.    
   
   
       32 . The assembly of  claim 31  wherein the holding device is made of aluminum.  
   
   
       33 . The assembly of  claim 31  wherein the holding device is made of steel.  
   
   
       34 . The assembly of  claim 31  comprising nuts.  
   
   
       35 . The assembly of  claim 31  wherein adhesive is applied between bolts and nuts.  
   
   
       36 . A method for joining a holding device and a tubular member to a flat surface without welding, wherein the resulting joint retains yield strength of the materials in the joint in the range of from 30,000 to 40,000 psi, said method in combination comprising: 
 (a) clamping the tubular member between external face plates and internal clamping bars of said holding device with bolts,    (b) attaching said holding device and clamped tubular member to a base plate with attachment bolts, and    (c) loading of attachment bolts, which acts to secure the external face plates into a unitary structure that resists movement upon application of an external load normal to the axis of the holding device.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said attachment bolts pass through a washer plate to add lateral stability to the assembly.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein an adhesive is applied between bolts and nuts to resist the loosening of external fastening.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein design yield strength is at least 35,000 psi.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36  wherein design ultimate strength in the joint is in the range of from 35,000 psi to 45,000 psi.